No Substitutions, Please

Noah McKinnon and Louisa Herron
  • 5.0 (4)
  • FOOD
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A show about food and the things people do to it. Every week, Noah McKinnon and Louisa Herron pick a dish, define its most important elements, and then sit down to find out what the Internet thinks about it.

  1. 5D AGO

    Crispy Chickpeas

    Can you really transform a simple legume into a transcendent experience by drying it out and frying it in some hot oil? Or is Noah just looking for his newest personality replacement? We discuss. Join our Patreon! Our theme is Street Food, by FASSounds, and is governed by the Simplified Pixabay License.

    1h 6m

  2. JAN 18

    Minnesota Hotdish

    One of those great and comforting Midwestern dishes that's best enjoyed with, or given for, people you love. Best served without ice. (Noah thought he'd be less angry when he sat down to write this description, but he's not. We promise the episode is funnier.) Relevant links: Fundraiser for Marimar Martínez ($6.6K / $10K) Fundraiser for Keith Porter's Daughters ($302.9K/$350K) Fundraiser for Becca Good ($1.5M/$50K) Compilation of various funds defending Minneapolitans from the occupation: Stand With Minnesota

    1h 2m

  3. JAN 4

    Chocolate Cake

    How come it took us this long to get around to chocolate cake? Well, we heard you say your favorite episodes are the ones where Louisa loves the food and Noah hates it. So really, we did this for you. You're welcome. Join our Patreon! Follow us: @NoSubsPlease@mastodon.online on Mastodon. @NoSubsPlease on BlueSky. Noah: @nsmckinnon@laserdisc.party on Mastodon, @nsmckinnon.bsky.social on BlueSky. Louisa: @louisa@mastodon.xyz. Our theme is Street Food, by FASSounds, and is governed by the Simplified Pixabay License.

    1h 6m

  4. 12/14/2025

    Blackened Chicken

    Do you ever want to burn food on purpose? Then have we got news for you! Noah and Louisa talk about the surprisingly versatile Cajun classic that finally frees you to let the intrusive thought win. Join our Patreon! Follow us: @NoSubsPlease@mastodon.online on Mastodon. @NoSubsPlease on BlueSky. Noah: @nsmckinnon@laserdisc.party on Mastodon, @nsmckinnon.bsky.social on BlueSky. Louisa: @louisa@mastodon.xyz. Our theme is Street Food, by FASSounds, and is governed by the Simplified Pixabay License.

    56 min

  5. 11/30/2025

    Biryani

    What do you do when you want to cook a protein, and rice, and vegetables, and you only have one pot to work with? You stuff it all in there and let it socialize for a few hours. Louisa and Noah talk about the Persian-Indian dish that lets you have a little bit of everything with each bite. Join our Patreon! Follow us: @NoSubsPlease@mastodon.online on Mastodon. @NoSubsPlease on BlueSky. Noah: @nsmckinnon@laserdisc.party on Mastodon, @nsmckinnon.bsky.social on BlueSky. Louisa: @louisa@mastodon.xyz. Our theme is Street Food, by FASSounds, and is governed by the Simplified Pixabay License.

    51 min

  6. 11/23/2025

    Proximate Foods Trivia

    Since we're asking you to donate to our triviathon fundraiser, here's a little taste of what it's like when we pit our knowledge against each other . . . and, not coincidentally, of what you get when you join our Patreon. Enjoy! Follow us: @NoSubsPlease@mastodon.online on Mastodon. @NoSubsPlease on BlueSky. Noah: @nsmckinnon@laserdisc.party on Mastodon, @nsmckinnon.bsky.social on BlueSky. Louisa: @louisa@mastodon.xyz. Our theme is Street Food, by FASSounds, and is governed by the Simplified Pixabay License.

    1h 26m

  7. 11/16/2025

    Pecan Pie

    Good news, everyone: we found a Thanksgiving food we hadn't covered yet! Noah and Louisa talk about the perfectly acceptable custard pie whose adherents, for some reason, keep trying to make sound grosser than it is. Participate in our fundraiser! Join our Patreon! Follow us: @NoSubsPlease@mastodon.online on Mastodon. @NoSubsPlease on BlueSky. Noah: @nsmckinnon@laserdisc.party on Mastodon, @nsmckinnon.bsky.social on BlueSky. Louisa: @louisa@mastodon.xyz. Our theme is Street Food, by FASSounds, and is governed by the Simplified Pixabay License.

    50 min

  8. 11/02/2025

    Red Velvet Cake

    If you want to roll out the red carpet for dessert . . . you should probably make something with less frosting. Noah and Louisa talk about a classic cake, and Noah discovers that he is, in fact, an easy mark. Join our Patreon! Follow us: @NoSubsPlease@mastodon.online on Mastodon. @NoSubsPlease on BlueSky. Noah: @nsmckinnon@laserdisc.party on Mastodon, @nsmckinnon.bsky.social on BlueSky. Louisa: @louisa@mastodon.xyz. Our theme is Street Food, by FASSounds, and is governed by the Simplified Pixabay License.

    51 min
See All (142)

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

A show about food and the things people do to it. Every week, Noah McKinnon and Louisa Herron pick a dish, define its most important elements, and then sit down to find out what the Internet thinks about it.

Information

  • Creator
    Noah McKinnon and Louisa Herron
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    142
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2022 No Substitutions, Please
  • Show Website
    No Substitutions, Please